STAFFORD, Va. — A body was found in a vehicle in the Rappahannock River, just off the city dock in Fredericksburg around 11 a.m., Tuesday, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office.
The body has been identified as Howard Shrieves, Jr., age 80 of Bloxom, Va. He was last known to be traveling to the Pocomoke City, Maryland area, at approximately 5 p.m. on Nov. 19.
A citizen at the dock notified Fredericksburg Police they spotted a submerged car in the river, just down from the city dock.
Fredericksburg Police responded and immediately notified the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction covering the Rappahannock River in the region.
Howard Shrieves Jr., age 80.
Divers from the Fredericksburg Fire and Rescue Department located a body inside of the car.
The body was recovered was taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond to determine the official cause of death.
Stafford Detectives are investigating why Shrieves was in the Fredericksburg area and how the car ended up in the river. Prior press releases indicated he had a medical condition, that one sheriff said was Alzheimer’s.
If anyone saw Shrieves in the Fredericksburg area from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Monday, Nov. 23 they are asked to call Detective Todd Nosal at 540-658-4492.
He drove a 1999 black Ford Escort with Virginia plates VKB2761. The car was damaged on the passenger side front fender.
He wore a blue plaid shirt, blue pants, black boots, blue jacket and a brown baseball cap. Shrieves wa a black male, approximately 6’1 and weighing around175 lbs.
